Stop-cock box



(No Model.)

J. K. CLARK.

STOP 000K BOX.

Patented Feb. 10,1885.

17070624107. 952x01 Ulnar UNTTE STaTEs PATENT @EETQE.

JOHN K. CLARK, OF BUFFALO, NEWV YORK.

STOP-=COCK BOX.

,QPECIPICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,871, datedf'ebruary 10, 1885.

Application tiled December 26, 83. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN K. CLARK, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Bu lfalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stop-Cock Boxes, of which the followingis a specification.

As is well known in the use of branch pipes leading from street mains into a house for either water or gas, it is necessary to provide some means by which the supply through each branch pipe to the house may be permitted or may be cut off as circumstances require. On this account it is usual to place in such branch pipe a stop-cock, a cylinder or tube being arranged above the stopcock, the en d of the cylinder or tube reaching to the level of the pavement or roadway, so that ready access for a wrench to the stopcock in the branch pipe is afforded. Such tube or cylinder once placed in position, with its top flush with the pavement or roadway, is the simplest means for allowing access to the stop-cock. It often happens, however, that the grade of the pavement or road way changes, leaving the top of the tube or cylinder either above or belowthe changed grade. It is desirable, however, that the top or cap of such tube or cylinder shall always be even or flush with the surface of the pavement or roadway, and to this end several devices have been invented.

The object of my invention isto improvet-he construction of this class of devices; and to such end it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in which Figures 1 and 2 are front views of the top and bottom sections, respectively, of my improved stopcock box; Fig. 3, a front view of thetwo sections in position, and Fig. 4 a view of the cap therefor.

As shown in these drawings, the lower section telescopes into the upper; but it is to be understood that this relation of the two is in terchangeable, the organization shown being merelytypical of the relation of the two sections to each other.

In the drawings, 1 is the top section, and 2 the bottom section, 1 being made slightly larger than 2, so that 2 may telescope or slide therein. The base of 2 is made with the recesses 9 upon opposite sides, so that it mayset over the portion of the branch pipe having the necessary stop-cock. Upon one side of 2 are made. formed, or cast the ratchet-teeth 8,while upon 1 is made the recess or groove 6, in which may slide the ratchet-teeth 8, and which protects and incloses such of the same as are slid or telescoped within 1. At the lower part of the groove or recess 6 is placed the pawl 7, pivoted therein at 14, and having an enlargement or extension, 15, making it a gravitypawl, so that the tooth or active end thereof is normally thrown by the weight of into engagement with the teeth 8. The top of the section 1 is preferably made with a flange, 3, having at one point vertical extension 4 in which is a lateral countersunk recess, 5. The cap 10, Fig. 4, is made to fit loosely over and upon the flange 3. This cap 10 hasapendent extension, 11., corresponding to the extension 4, and transversely through the pendent eX- tension passes a square-headed screw, 12, adapted to be operated by a wrench, and which engages the recess in the extension 4. The teeth 8 may be of any desired distance apart, although I have found that three-eighths of an inch apart through, say, eighteen inches on 1, affords all the capacity for extension and contraction of the stop-cock box necessary for ordinary variations in the depth of the branch pipe or variations in grade after the stop-cock box has once been placed in position. This construction, as will readily be seen, enables a single pattern of box to be used with great differences of depth of the branch pipe, and when once set that the box may be altered readily and easily to compensate for any alterations of grade of the roadway or pavement with which the top 10 is supposed to be flush. At the same time the capis thoroughly secured by the conjoint action of the extensions 11 and 4, screw 12, and recess 5, and the top may be readily removed upon the application to 12 of any ordinary wrench whatever adapted to take upon the head of 12. \Vhile the slight bearing between 7 attached to 1 and theteeth 8 on 2 hold the two sections firmlytogether andinsure to the tube the proper length, there is no danger of such rusting together as will preclude the ready alteration of. the relation to each other of the two parts and necessary ICO changes of length of the tube or stop-cock box formed by them.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is 1. A telescopic stop-cock box consisting of two sections, one sliding within the other, the

' inner section having formed upon a part of its periphery longitudinally aset of ratchet-teeth, the outer section having open ends and a longitudinal recess in its wall of alength approximating the length of the set of teeth on the innor section for receiving such teeth,and a pawl arranged in said recess and uniting the two sections at any desired point within the limits of their telescopic movement, substantially as described.

2. In a telescopic stop-cock box, a section, 1,1nade with a longitudinal recess,6,in its wall, in the lower portion of which recess is arranged a pawl,-15, for uniting and holding said section to a second section, substantially as described.

3. In a stop-cock box, the combination of a cap therefor having a pendent extension, a screw passing transversely through the pendent extension, and a flange upon the stop-cock box provided with a vertical extension having a recess for receiving such teeth, a pawl ark ranged in such recess for uniting the two sections at any desired point within the limits of their movement relatively to each other, a

flange, 3, with pendent extension 4, having countersunk recess 5 therein, and a cap, 10, having pendent extension 11, in which is seated the screw 12, for engagement in the recess 5 for securing the cap thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof lhave hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wit-r nesses.

. 1 JOHN K. CLARK.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM Wlirr'n,

KIMBA'LLV CLARK. f 

